I love American roadside attractions and, apparently, this artist did too. If you’re traveling through the Denver International Airport keep an eye out for this piece of art: “America, Why I Love Her,” a map of roadside attractions.
The giant roadside attractions map is located on Level 5, near baggage claim, in the Denver airport. Created by Gary Sweeney, the mixed media mural was inspired by the family road trips he took in his childhood and is an homage to the beautiful landscapes and strange monuments he experienced along the way.
The Road Trip Journal & Activity Book
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Sweeney worked as a customer service agent for Continental Airlines and spent a year flying around the country and visiting weird roadside attractions. He took that experience and transformed it into the murals that still entice Denver travelers today.
The mural features a large yellow, orange, red, and green map of the contiguous United States dotted with some of the most well-known roadside attractions, museums, and tourist traps in each state, and illustrated with framed black and white photos.
There’s even a special marker for Denver that proclaims “YOU ARE HERE…BUY YOUR LUGGAGE IS IN PITTSBURGH!”
America, Why I Love Her has been on display since 1994. Being nearly two decades old it serves as a love letter to the American roadside and a time capsule to the past, as many of the icons depicted have since closed their doors or been removed.
There are actually two roadside attractions maps in the Denver International Airport, with the other one celebrating an entirely different set of roadside Americana. However, the southern half of the pair is temporarily in storage due to Great Hall construction within the terminal. It is set to return once construction is completed.
If you’re traveling to Denver to check out all the best Colorado roadside attractions, be sure to make room in your itinerary for the Big Blue Bear, the Milk Can Shaped Ice Cream Shop, and the Big Sweep. And don’t forget to keep an eye out for the Blue Mustang (Blucifer) as you travel to or from the Denver Airport!
Sites Listed on the Roadside Attractions Map
Alabama
- Coon Dog Graveyard in Cherokee
- World’s Largest Iron Man in Birmingham
Arizona
- Breck Girl Hall of Fame in Phoenix
- Titan Missile Museum in Green Valley
- Tom Mix Monument in Florence
Arkansas
- Anita Bryant Museum in Eureka Springs
- Christ of the Ozarks in Eureka Springs
California
- Banana Museum in Altadena
- Camera Obscura in Sana Monica
- Donner Party Museum in Truckee
- International Surfing Museum in Huntington Beach
- Lawrence Welk Museum in Escondido
- Prisbey’s Bottle Village in Simi Valley
- Roy Rogers Museum in Victorville
- Winchester Mystery House in San Jose
- World’s Largest Artichoke in Castroville
- World’s Largest Yo-Yo in Chico
Colorado
- Alferd Packer Museum in Lake City
- James Brown Soul Center of the Universe Bridge in Steamboat Springs
- World’s Largest Hercules Beetle in Colorado Springs
Connecticut
- Submarine Museum in Groton
Delaware
- Johnson Memorial in Dover
Florida
- Coral Castle in Homestead
- Lionel Train and Seashell Museum in Sarasota
- Shuffleboard Hall of Fame in St. Petersburg
- Tragedy in US History Museum in St. Augustine
- Tupperware Museum in Kissimmee
Georgia
- Big Apple Statue in Cornelia
- Georgia Agrirama in Tifton
- Mrs. Pope’s Museum in Cairo
Idaho
- Appaloosa Horse Club Museum in Moscow
- Fiddler’s Hall of Fame in Weiser
- World’s Only Man-Made Geyser in Soda Springs
Illinois
- Hippie Memorial in Arcola
- Largest Catsup Bottle in Collinsville
- Route 66 Hall of Fame in McLean (Pontiac)
- Time Museum in Rockford
Indiana
- Dan Quayle Museum in Huntington
- World’s Largest Egg in Mentone
Iowa
- Buddy Holly Monument in Clear Lake
- Grotto of the Redemption in West Bend
Kansas
- Barbed Wire Museum in La Crosse
- Emmett Kelly Museum in Sedan
- Forest of Friendship in Atchison
- World’s Largest Ball of Twine in Cawker City
Kentucky
- Museum of Whiskey in Bardstown
- Ventriloquism Museum in Fort Mitchell
Louisiana
- Tabasco Sauce Visitors Center in Avery Island
Maine
- Andre the Seal Statue in Rockport
- Largest Lobster Trap in Oxford
Maryland
- Babe Ruth Museum in Baltimore
- Great Blacks in Wax Museum in Baltimore
Massachusetts
- Paper House n Pigeon Cove (Rockport)
- Salem Witch Museum in Salem
Michigan
- Paul Bunyan Statue Car Parts in Grayling (Alpena)
- Paul Bunyan Statue in Manistique
- Paul Bunyan Statue in Ossineke
- Paul Bunyan Statue in Oscoda
Minnesota
- Museum of Questionable Medical Devices in Minneapolis
- Paul Bunyan Museum in Akeley
- Sandpaper Museum in Twin Harbors
- Spam Museum in Austin
- World’s Largest Loon in Vergas
Mississippi
- International Checkers Hall of Fame in Petal
Missouri
- Hair Museum in Independence
- Precious Moments Chapel in Carthage
- World’s Largest Pecan in Brunswick
Montana
- Dot & Lin’s Exotic Animal Ranch in Plentywood
- Oscar’s Dreamland in Billings
- Range Rider’s Museum in Miles City
- Sheepherder Hall of Fame in Circle
Nebraska
- Ole’s Big Game Lounge in Paxton
- World’s Largest Covered Wagon in Milford
Nevada
- Liberace Museum in Las Vegas
- Thunder Mountain in Imlay
New Hampshire
- Scouting Museum in Manchester
New Jersey
- Capital Punishment Museum in Trenton
- Soup Tureen Museum in Camden
New Mexico
- Billy the Kid Grave and Museum in Fort Sumner
- National Atomic Museum in Albuquerque
- UFO Museum in Roswell
New York
- Salt Museum in Liverpool
- Woodstock Monument in Bethel
North Carolina
- World’s Largest Chest of Drawers in High Point
North Dakota
- Lawrence Welk Birthplace in Strasburg
- Roger Maris Museum in Fargo
Ohio
- Accounting Hall of Fame in Columbus
- Popcorn Museum in Marion
- World of Rubber in Akron
Oklahoma
- Mom-Pop’s Cap Museum in Marietta
- Oral Roberts Prayer Tower in Tulsa
Oregon
- 24-Hour Church of Elvis in Portland
- Oregon Vortex in Gold Hill
Pennsylvania
- Museum of Childhood in Douglassville
- Mushroom Museum in Kennett Square
- Shoe House in Hellam (York)
Rhode Island
- Rhode Island Red Tribute in Adamsville
South Carolina
- Dental History Museum in Charleston
- Rice Museum in Georgetown
- Stock Car Hall of Fame in Darlington
South Dakota
- Cosmos Mystery Area in Rapid City
- Wall Drug in Wall
Tennessee
- Confederama in Chattanooga
- Museum of Beverage Containers in Goodlettsville
- Twitty City in Herndersonville
Texas
- Buckhorn Hall of Horns in San Antonio
- Cockroach Hall of Fame in Plano
- Cowgirl Hall of Fame in Hereford (Fort Worth)
- Dan Blocker Memorial Head in O’Donnell
- Gafford Family Museum in Crowell
- Killer Bee Statue in Hidalgo
- Orange Show in Houston
- Toilet Seat Art Museum in San Antonio (Now, The Colony)
- World’s Largest Strawberry in Poteet
Utah
- Stuntman Hall of Fame in Moab
Vermont
- Big Ladderback Chair in Bennington
Virginia
- Oyster Museum in Chincoteague
- Stonewall Jackson’s Arm in Locust Grove
Washington
- Apple Industry Museum in Wenatchee
- Toaster Museum in Seattle
- World’s Largest Egg in Winlock
Washington DC
- Potato Museum in Washington DC
West Virginia
- Smallest Post Office in Silver Lake
Wisconsin
- Biggest Badger in Birnamwood
- House on the Rock in Spring Green
- World’s Largest Talking Loon in Mercer
Wyoming
- Birthplace of the Jackalope in Douglas
America, Why I Love Her – Roadside Attraction Map
Address: Denver International Airport, 8500 Peña Blvd, Denver, CO
Cost: Free to See…but you should probably buy a plane ticket
Hours: Always Visible
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